Laundry unit



Sept. 8, 1936.

M. L HUNKER 2,053,830

LAUNDRY UNI T Filed June 26, 1934 3.Sheets-Sheet l VQQQ Sept. 8, 1936; HUNKER LAUNDRY UNIT Filed June 26, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 8, 1936. M HUNKER 2,053,830

LAUNDRY UNIT Filed June 26, 1934 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 45 28 r (9 l O 24 51 I I6 50 22 I g 42 gwuentoo 1 Lilli/fer 52 25 v w W WW Patented I Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES LAUNDRY UNIT Martin L. Bunker, Dover, Ohio, asslgnor to The Reeves Manufacturing Company, Dover, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application June 28, 1934, Serial No. 732,402

6 Claims. (01148-146) The invention relates to a laundry unit and more particularly to a stand or bench for supporting one or more laundry tubs.

The object oi. the improvement is to provide a 6 stand or bench for supporting one or more laundry tubs and having means for removably mounting the tubs securely thereon.

A further object is to provide a stand or bench of knockdown construction so arranged that the 1 entire stand may be quickly and easily disassembled and placed within one of the laundry tubs for shipping or storage, and the tubs are so constructed that they may be nested within each other so that the entire laundry unit of the stand and two tubs may be stored or shipped in a carton of just sufficient size to contain one of the tubs.

Another object is to provide a stand or bench of this character having a substantially rectangular portion arranged to fit snugly within the so chime of each tub and provided with removable legs having flanges adapted to extend around the corners of the chime of the tub in order to securely hold each tub upon the stand, at the same time permitting the tub to be easily removed therefrom when desired.

A still further object of the improvement is to provide a stand or bench formed of two substantially rectangular members, each of which comprises four similar straight members having curved end portions connected together, legs being removably connected to two comer portions of each rectangular member and connectingmembers being detachably connected to adjacent sides of both rectangular members.

85 Another object is to provide a stand or bench formed of two similar rectangular members detachably connected by connecting members having soap dishes formed therein to receive cakes of soap.

The above objects, together with others which will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings and the following description or which may be hereinafter pointed out, may be attained by constructing the improved laundry unit in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a laundry unit embodying the invention and comprising a stand supporting two tubs;

Fig. 2, a top plan view of the stand shown in Fig. 1 with the tubs removed;

Fig. 3, an enlarged fragmentary section taken as on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, showing the manner of removably securing the tubs upon the stand;

66 Fig. 4, an enlarged sectional view through the central portion of the stand taken as on the line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary plan sectional view through the stand taken as on the line 5-5, Fig. 3; 6

Fig. 6, a detached perspective view of one of the connecting members. which connect the two rectangular portions of the stand;

Fig. 7, a perspective view of a laundry unit embodying the invention showing the same 10 adapted for supporting one tub; and

Fig. 8, a vertical sectional view through a carton containing the entire laundry unit such as shown in Fig. 1, disassembled and nested within the carton for storage or shipping, one tub being l5 nested within the other and having the entire stand disassembled and nested therein.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The invention contemplates the provision of 20 a laundry unit comprising a stand or bench upon which one or more laundry tubs may be removably secured, each tub being provided with a drain outlet and hose by means of which the water may be drained from the tub when the washing is al finished, the stand or bench being preferably mounted on casters so that it may be easily moved to position each tub beneath a spigot or the like for filling the tubs and then moved to the position where it is desired to use the tubs so for washing. Thus, a laundry unit is provided which has all of the advantages of the ordinary stationary tubs and at the same time is easily portable.

As stated in the preamble of the specification, 88 the invention also contemplates the provision of such a laundry unit which may be easily and readily knocked down and nested for storage or shipping and just as easily and readily assembled for use.

The bench may be constructed to support either one or two tubs and may therefore include either one or two rectangular frame members indicated generally at I0, each of which is formed of four similar sheet metal members, each of which comprises a straight portion l I and curved ends l2. The curved end portions of adjacent members it are overlapped and welded or otherwise rigidly connected together as indicated at l3, thus forming a rigid rectangular frame member.

For the purpose of strengthening these rectangular frame members, a horizontal rib I may be outwardly pressed in each of the members II and inturned angular flanges I 5 and I6 may be formed at the upper and lower edges of each of said members.

Each of the rectangular members in is shaped in plan so as to snugly fit within the chime ll of a laundry tub indicated generally at l8 which may be any suitable form of rectangular tub, preferably a sheet metal tub substantially such as shown in Vogan Design Patent No. 89,664 of April 18, 1933. Such a tub may be provided with the substantially flat side walls I! and angular or rounded corners 2D and the chime ll thereof preferably has the corners rounded as illustrated at 2|, so as to fit the rounded corners l2 of the rectangular frame l0.

For the purpose of easily and readily draining the water from the tub when the washing is finished, a drain spout22 may be centrally located in the bottom wall 23 of the tub and a hose 24 may be connected thereto and provided at its free end with a stopper 25 which may be attached to the free end portion of the hose as by a chain 26 to prevent the stopper from becoming lost. A hook 21 is also connected to the free end portion of the hose and adapted to be hooked over the rim of the tub, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, when the tub is being used for washing. When it is desired to drain the water from the tub, the hook is removed from the rim of the tub and the free end of the hose is lowered into position adjacent to a drain and the stopper 25 removed therefrom so that all of the water may drain from the tub through the hose.

Where the stand is arranged to support only a single tub, as shown in Fig. 7, four legs 28, preferably of pressed sheet metal of suitable gauge, are connected to the four corners of the rectangular frame In as by the bolts 29. Each leg has the upright, transversely curved flange 30 at its upper end adapted to fit around the rounded corner 2| of the chime l'l so as to assist in securely holding the tub upon the rectangular frame. Casters 3| may be provided upon the legs 28 for easily transporting the laundry unit across the floor of the laundry or other place where the washing is being done.

When it is desired to form a laundry unit comprising two tubs carried upon a stand as shown in Fig. l, the stand may be formed of two of the rectangular frame members ill connected together by the T-shaped connecting members indicated generally at 32, each of which comprises a horizontal central leg portion 33 adapted to extend between the adjacent frame members I0 and having depending flanges 34 at its sides provided with apertures 35 through which bolts 36 may be passed for connecting the same to the rectangular frame members 10. These horizontal portions 33 are curved outwardly and merge into the vertical crossbar portion 31 shaped substantially the same as the members H of the rectangular frames l0 and provided with openings 38 through which bolts '39 may be passed for connectingto the rectangular frame members.

A depression 40 may be formed in each of the horizontal portions 33 of these connecting members and provided with drain apertures 4| forming soap dishes in which cakes of soap may be placed when not in use.

To further reinforce and strengthen the stand, a brace member 42 may be located between the rectangular frames ill at a point spaced between the connecting members 33 and provided with depending flanges 43 through which bolts 44 are aosaeso located for connecting the same to the rectangular frame members.

The legs 28 may be connected to the four corners of the elongated rectangular stand thus formed as by bolts 29, as illustrated in Fig. 1, thus producing a laundry unit comprising two self-draining tubs demountably secured upon a portable stand which may be moved to any desired position for filling the tubs with water, washing clothing and draining the tubs.

By constructing the improved laundry unit in the manner illustrated and above described, it will be seen that the same is capable of being easily and readily knocked down and nested in minimum space for storage or shipping. As shown in Fig. 8, it will be seen that the two tubs can be nested one within the other so as to be located within a carton indicated at 85 which is only slightly larger than one tub and the entire stand may be disassembled and nested within the two tubs so that the entire laundry unit of the stand and two tubs may be knocked down and nested in a space only slightly greater than that occupied by one of the tubs.

I claim.

1. A laundry unit including a stand adapted to support a rectangular tub and having a continuous downwardly projecting chime having rounded corners, the stand having a rectangular frame member shaped to conform to and to fit snugly within the entire interior of the chime of the tub, and legs at the corners of the frame member having upright, transversely curved flanges fitting snugly around the exterior of the chime, whereby the tub may be rigidly secured upon the stand by slidably inserting the chime between the rectangular frame and said flanges.

2. A laundry unit including a stand adapted to support a pair of rectangular tubs having rounded corners and having continuous downwardly projecting chimes, the stand comprising two spaced rectangular frame members shaped to conform to and to flt snugly within the entire interiors of the chimes of the tubs, a pair of substantially T-shaped connecting members each having a central leg located between and detachably connected to the rectangular frame members and a crossbar overlapping and detachably connected to the rectangular frame members, and legs detachably connected to the corners of the stand.

3. A laundry unit including a stand adapted to I support a pair of rectangular tubs having rounded corners and having continuous downwardly projecting chimes, the stand comprising two spaced rectangular frame members shaped to conform to and to fit snugly within the entire interiors of the chimes of the tubs, a pair of substantially T-shaped connecting members each having a central leg located between and detachably connected to the rectangular frame members and a crossbar overlapping and detachably connected to the rectangular frame members, and legs detachably connected to the corners of the stand and having upright, transversely curved flanges fitting snugly around the exterior corners of the chimes.

4. A laundry unit including a stand adapted to support a pair of rectangular tubs, the stand comprising two spaced rectangular frame members each adapted to support one tub, a pair of substantially T-shaped connecting members, each having a central horizontal leg located between and detachably connected to the rectangular frame members and a vertical crossbar overlapping and detachably connected to the rectangular frame members, and legs detachably connected to the corners of the stand.

5. A laundry unit including a stand adapted to support a pair of rectangular tubs, the stand comprising two spaced rectangular sheet metal frame members the sides of which are substantially vertical, a pair of substantially T-shaped sheet metal connecting members, each having a central, horizontal leg located between the rectangular frame members and provided at its side edges with vertical flanges connected to the opposed sides of the two rectangular frame members and a vertical crossbar overlapping and detachably connected to the adjacent sides of the rectangular frame members, and legs detachably connected to the corners of the stand.

6. A laundry unit including a.- stand adapted to support a pair of rectangular tubs having rounded corners and having continuous downwardly projecting chimes, the stand comprising two spaced rectangular sheet metal frame members shaped to conform to and to fit snugly within the entire interiors of the chimes and having substantially vertical sides, a pair of substantially T-shaped, sheet metal connecting members, each having a central, horizontal leg located between the rectangular frame members and provided at its side edges with vertical flanges connected to opposed sides of the two rectangular frame members and a vertical crossbar overlapping and detachably connected to the adjacent sides of the rectangular frame members, and legs detachably connected to the corners of the stand and having upright, transversely curved flanges fitting snugly around the exterior corners of the chimes.

MARTIN L, HUNKER. 

